Brow Lamination Aftercare: How to Look After Your Lami

You've just had your brows laminated and honestly? Obsessed. Now comes the bit that decides how long they stay that way.

Lamination is a chemical treatment, so the hair needs a little looking after. The good news is it's genuinely simple, and most of the work happens in the first 24 hours.

Why the first 24 hours matter

When you leave the studio there's a deeply conditioning treatment still sitting on your brows. We want it to stay there and do its job, which is why the rules are strictest on day one.

For the first 24 hours:

• Keep them dry. No swimming, saunas, steam rooms or super-steamy showers.

• Avoid excessive sweating, so skip the gym for the day.

• Don't put makeup or products on the brows. Everything else on your face is fine.

• Don't sleep face-down. Pressure while they're setting undoes the shape.

Can I wash my face after a brow lamination?

Yes. For the first 24 hours just avoid the brow area itself, and after that you can wash your face and brows completely as normal.

If you need to wash your hair before the 24 hours is up, ask us for a visor on your way out of the studio and we'll sort you out.

Why do my brows look so sleek right now?

Completely normal, and the question we get most.

Straight after your appointment your brows have been freshly laminated and styled, with that conditioning treatment still on them. They can look very sleek, almost stuck down flat. Once you wash them after the first 24 hours, they soften right up and look fluffier and far more natural.

So if you walk out thinking they look a bit much, don't panic. Give it a day. That's not the finished look.

Laminated brows aren't glued in place

This surprises a lot of people. Lamination doesn't lock your brow hairs into one permanent position. What it actually does is make them more flexible and much easier to style.

That means you'll still brush them each morning. The difference is that now they'll go where you put them and stay there, instead of doing whatever they like.

It also means waking up with messy brows is completely normal. Because the hairs are more flexible, sleeping moves them around. A quick brush through and they're back in shape.

How to style your laminated brows

Brush them into your desired shape with a clean spoolie each morning. That's genuinely it for most people.

If you want extra hold, add a brow gel. Our fave is GoGo Brows, which you can grab in studio.

Keep them conditioned

Be honest, are you actually going to use the serum? Worth it, we promise.

This is the bit people skip, and it's the one that matters most long-term. Lamination chemically changes the hair, so keeping it conditioned is important. Once your first 24 hours are up, use a nourishing brow serum or oil regularly. Ask us in studio and we'll point you to our top recommendations.

If your brows ever feel dry or a bit frizzy, that's the hair telling you it wants more conditioning. If they feel unusually brittle or damaged, talk to us before booking another lamination rather than pushing ahead.

Go easy on actives

Avoid strong exfoliants, retinol, AHAs and BHAs directly around the brow area for at least 48 hours after your appointment.

Beyond that, stay cautious with strong actives between appointments generally, and particularly in the days before you come in for waxing. Actives thin the skin, and thin skin plus wax is not a combo you want to experience. Trust us on this one.

When should I book my next one?

Wait until your brows have completely dropped back to their natural shape before you rebook. Going again too soon is the fastest way to end up with brows that stop taking the treatment well, which is why we ask for the gap even when they're looking a bit tired. Full timings are on our brow lamination page.

Not sure if you're ready? DM us a photo of your brows and we'll tell you honestly.

Book you and your pretty face in for a little bit of magic at Bambii B Ellenbrook or Inglewood.

Brow Lamination aftercare FAQs

• How long do I need to keep my brows dry?

  Avoid getting your brows wet for the first 24 hours after your lamination. This includes swimming, saunas, steam rooms and super-steamy showers.

• Can I wash my face after a brow lamination?

  Yes. For the first 24 hours simply avoid the brow area, and after that you can wash your face and brows as normal. If you need to wash your hair before then, ask us for a visor when you leave the studio.

• When can I wear makeup on my brows?

  We recommend waiting 24 hours before applying brow makeup or other products directly to the brows, as there's a deeply conditioning treatment that we like to be left on for 24 hours.

• My brows look messy when I wake up, is that normal?

  Yep. Because the hairs are more flexible after lamination, sleeping moves them around. Give them a quick brush in the morning and they'll be back in shape.

• Do I need to condition my brows after lamination?

  Yes. Lamination is a chemical treatment, so keeping the hairs conditioned is important. We recommend using a nourishing brow serum or oil regularly once your initial 24-hour aftercare period is over. Ask us for our top recommendations when you're in studio.

• Can I use retinol or exfoliating acids around my brows?

  Avoid strong exfoliants, retinol, AHAs, BHAs and active skincare directly around the brow area for at least 48 hours after your appointment. Always be cautious with strong actives between appointments too, particularly before waxing.

• Can I go to the gym after a brow lamination?

  We recommend avoiding excessive sweating for the first 24 hours.

• Why do my brows feel dry or frizzy?

  Lamination chemically changes the hair, so some dryness can occur. Regular conditioning is important. If your hairs feel unusually brittle or damaged, contact us before booking another lamination.